Initially a solo project of Trevor Michael Thompson
(formerly known as Introvert, until it turned out that there were several other Introverts out there already), the project began recording in 2001. The sessions, with Rose Reiter on vocals, later became the debut release Inanimate.

Inanimate, released in 2006 was 16 songs conveying brutal honesty, alienation, intelligence, loneliness, and dark, dry wit. The arrangements are complex and layered and as atmospheric as they are danceable. Inanimate inhabits the blurred regions between indietronica, goth, darkwave and ambient. The CD was widely played in college radio, and charted on many stations across Canada.

Beginning live performances in 2002, Trevor (that overrated yet awesome guy from The Rain and the Sidewalk) Shannon Hallett (Betty Kracker, Shrimpmeat), and poet/songwriter Wayde Compton became involved in 2004 have performed numerous times as a trio.

Trevor also recorded a song for the experimental underground SPOOX compilations (#2), as well as a cover of the song Propellor for an extremely hard to find 2CD Severed Heads tribute compilation.

Trevor later radicallly remixed some of the Inanimate songs for a limited release, Redundant, highlighting Trevor's industrial, darkwave and experimental electronic inlfuences. Following that was an appearance on the CD/magazine One Cool Word (the first recording with Hallett singing)

The newest double CD Weakness was released in Sept. 2009. the 28 songs continue The Rain and the Sidewalk's examinations of isolation, rejection and loneliness. The music combines the early 80's postpunk and electronic influences with 21st century ethereal experimental and indie pop.

The album charted at several college stations across Canada. Mike McLean filmed the band performing many songs from the Weakness (and newer material) at the FacePlant studio in December 2009, a few days before Shannon moved to Quebec.
The clips are bing posted to YouTube periodically.

The band toured eastern Canada in April 2010 as a duo, with Shannon. New father and noted author Wayde will not be touring with the band, but may perform in Vancouver on some shows.

The Rain and the Sidewalk is finishing a collection of alternate versions and remixes, plus a few covers. It will be called Stuck, and it should be out this year.

Also in progress is an all-new album, entitled Nadir for the spring 2012.

The band plans to tour Europe as soon as they're able.

To talk to The Rain and the Sidewalk, contact:
therainandthesidewalk@yahoo.ca

INANIMATE and WEAKNESS:
Canada - many record stores in Vancouver, Toronto and Ottawa
EU: Ciel-Rouge (Dijon, FR) and www.ciel-rouge.fr

All CDs:
Online: CDs can be ordered from the website or from McLean Records (www.mcleanrecords.com)
Digitally, they can be bought through BandCamp (therainandthesidewalk.bandcamp.com)

other locations

Website: you're soaking in it
MySpace: www.myspace.com/therainandthesidewalk
Facebook: www.facebook.com/pages/The-Rain-and-the-Sidewalk/366204233794
TRATS on the SEVCOM community: sevcom
On CBC Radio 3: Radio 3

CONTACT THE RAIN AND THE SIDEWALK
through grrrabbit productions: grrrabbit@hotmail.com
Contact Trevor @ therainandthesidewalk@yahoo.ca
www.grrrabbit.com

PRAISE

TRATS has received such disturbingly gushing praise as:

(from Terminal City weekly):
"...the only guy I know that can actually pull off the Joy Division thing, and he doesn't wear crappy girl clothes like all the other bands along that vein..."
John Cow

"...the Rain and the Sidewalk is fucking brilliant and eccentric the way no one else really is..."
"...The Rain and the Sidewalk...fell down on the floor..."
Jenn Wong

(from Discorder):
"...the guy simply could not sing. His voice was truly atrocious..."
"...His songs were really quite good, and the lyrics were intelligent and darkly humorous..."
Steve Tannock, real live action

"...I felt like I was listening to the cure, but with worse hair. Although it was an extremely entertaining live show...songs began to sound a bit repetitive, or maybe that was just their lyrical focus on 'worthlessness' and 'unworthiness'..."
Sofia Japan, Real Live Action

booker/media contact for The Rain and the Sidewalk
grrrabbit productions

Press/booker photosheet TIFF, 2M


One-sheet (pdf)

Technical Notes for sound personnel (PDF)